The Sweetheart Swirl was held on Saturday, February 23rd, and was sponsored by the senior class and their advisor, Mrs. Terpstra. CTA is appreciative of the efforts of Mrs. Terpstra, her husband Larry, and the crew of chaperones from CTA parents, staff, and administrators.

Highlights of the evening included crowning of the Sweetheart and Heartbreaker for each class (see photos) and stretch limo rides (contracted by Mrs. Terpstra) for everyone who attended.

Good laughs, fun, and food were had by all! Thank you, seniors and Mrs. Terpstra.

This Valentine’s Day, the CTA Kindergarten did something a little different for its celebration; we had a Kindergarten dance. Our parents embraced the idea by sending their munchkins dressed in their most fashionable duds. This dance was a complete success with the help of our amazing parents. To start the dance off, we had yummy treats that were brought in by our parents. During the feast of treats, we had a manners lesson that emphasized the needs for saying “please” and “thank you,” as well as proper eating procedures. After our bellies were full, out came our dancing shoes. When the music began, the kids had a blast dancing to the songs like “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves and “Celebration” by Kool and the Gang. These songs were new to the students, but the beats still snuck in and they started moving their feet! Fun was had by all at our First Annual Kindergarten Valentine’s Day Dance!

Creative Technologies Academy 1st Trimester Honor Roll

High School Honor Roll

Middle School Honor Roll

CTA CALENDAR

 January

29 Basketball @ Waypoint Academy – 5:30 (Girls); 7 (Boys)

31 Box Top Store

February

1 Senior Class Meeting – Auditorium – 9:45 am

4 Josten’s Rep – Class Rings for Grades 9-12

5 Basketball @ Wellspring – 4:30 (Girls); 6:00 (Boys)

8 Basketball @ Waypoint Academy – 5:30 (Girls); 7 (Boys) 15 Basketball @ Grand River Prep – 5:00 (Girls); 7 (Boys)

18-19 Mid-Winter Break – No School for Students and Staff

23 Sweetheart Swirl for Grades 8-12 – Rockford Community Cabin – 7-11 pm

Creative Technologies Academy

350 Pine Street

Cedar Springs, MI  49319

(616) 696-4905

Open Enrollment Period

for the 2013-14 School Year

PARENT PORTAL – Parents, if you would like online access to your student’s grades, attendance, behavior, schedule, progress reports and report cards, please email Robbie Coxon at rcoxon@ctachargers.org to request an activation code.

FLU SEASON: We would like to remind you to keep your children home if they are ill — especially if they have a fever. The Health Department is reporting higher than normal cases of the flu for this time of the year. If your child has any of the following symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, headache, muscle/body aches, diarrhea -PLEASE KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME.

• If your child has any of these symptoms before going to bed, plan to keep your child home

• If your child wakes up with these symptoms but begs to go to school, keep your child home.

• Finally, your child must be free of any of these symptoms for 24 hours before returning to school.

Sick kids at school spread germs to healthy kids and staff — and the exposure continues to increase. The influenza virus is very serious. And remember, it is not too late to get flu shots. For more information about the flu vaccine and prevention tips, go to the health department website stickittotheflu.com.

• Hand Washing: Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce the number of germs on them. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs.

• Hand sanitizers are not as effective when hands are visibly dirty.

• How do you use hand sanitizers?

• Apply the product to the palm of one hand.

• Rub your hands together.

• Rub the product over all surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.

December 21 Last Day before Winter Break

24 – Jan 4 No School for Students and Staff ~ Winter Break

January 07 Classes Resume

11 Basketball @ Grand River Prep – 5 (Girls); 6:30 (Boys)

15 Basketball @ WMAES – 5:30 (Girls); 7 (Boys)

17 Parent/Teacher Conferences – 3-7 (High School Only)

18 Basketball @ Grattan Academy – 5:30 (Girls); 7 (Boys)

21 No School for Students and Staff – MLK Day

21 Basketball @ Potter’s House – 5

29 Basketball @ Waypoint Academy – 5:30 (Girls); 7 (Boys)

November 21-23 No School for Students and Staff ~ Thanksgiving Break

November 26 No School for Students; Teacher PD Day: 9 AM-3:30 PM

November 27 Beginning of 2nd Trimester

December 05 Teacher PD 3-4 PM

December 08 MORP Dance – Grades 9-12

December 12 K-5 Christmas Performance – TBA

December 14 K-5 Santa Workshop – 5:30 – 8 pm

December 21 Last Day before Winter Break

December 24 – Jan 4 No School for Students and Staff ~ Winter Break

January 07 Classes Resume

Pictured: Gillian Crowder(4th) and Shawney Mason (K); Joshua Piskun (K) and Jared Smith(4th)

Each week, Kindergarten and Fourth Grade students pair up for Reading Buddies.  Fourth Grade students help the Kindergartners with word recognition and comprehension while reading aloud to them.  As Kindergarten students become more familiar with books and text, those students start to read to the fourth graders as well.  Miss Bostic, the kindergarten teacher, states, “Reading Buddies allows my Kindergartners to hear fluent readers, and builds their confidence.  Students get so excited each week to share that learning time with their buddies.”